Generator

[Egon]

Brown outs will occur if the generator is overloaded. Lights get dim, rotating devices get hot and will eventually require replacement and the coffe maker just don't work right.

 

[shvl73]

I've seen the capacitors on compressors fry with too small a generator. The ones for the small Emglo units were around $50.

 

[midlf]

When you turn off the main breaker, you are only cutting one half of the circuit. The neutral is still connected to the grid. If one of your electrical outlets is not wired properly, then it can back feed through the neutral into the grid and kill an electrical worker.
Dusty

You cannot backfeed the grid from the neutral. The main breaker cuts off two of the three wires that feed your house. The two hot wires. The neutral is grounded at your panel and at the transformer that feeds your house. In most locations the neutral is also connected to the neutral on the high voltage distribution line feeding that transformer. That distribution line neutral is grounded several times per mile.

However you are correct, backfeeding your house without a transfer switch is against code and dangerous.

 

[tallyho8]

I agree that backfeeding without a transfer case is against code and dangerous. After Hurricane Katrina I had no choice. We could not get a transfer switch for months and could not survive the heat without electricity. To be safe as possible, this is what we did. We turned off the main circuit breaker and pad locked it. We put a reminder tag on the lock that said "Danger, generator in operation. Disconnect generator before turning on main". I disconnected my oven wires from their 220 volt circuit breaker and connected my generator wires to that circuit breaker. (I couldn't power my oven with my generator anyway, and it was the least necessary item we needed to use. We turned off the circuit breakers to the electric stove and central air since we couldn't power these either. Then we were able to use all our lights, computers, 2 small high efficiency room air conditioners, microwave, refrigerator, etc. with no problems. We had to turn off the acs when we used the washer or dryer. Luckily, we have a natural gas dryer and water heater. It was illegal, but more importantly, it WAS safe. The most dangerous part was siphoning gas out of cars to run the generator.

 

[Highbeam]

You would be silly not to think that the majority of generators running during a power outage are equipped with suicide cords (double male) and backfeeding the house. It is just the way it is and a lineman that doesn't assume every line is live is also a little crazy. Suicide cords being against code, dangerous, sure - but so are many things we do in a temporary situation.

It would be mighty difficult to do it wrong since if you forgot to shut off the main breaker then the generator would be trying to supply power to the entire grid which would pop your generator breakers or stall the engine immediately.

All that said, I am a cord runner. My generator powers my home through powerstrips and such hooked up to the 110 outlets of the genset and long extension cords. This works for me given my lack of needed 220 appliances. It is obvious to me that most folks find it easier and very effective to make up a suicide cord.

 

[George2615]

My generator is a combination welder / generator. Its a Miller Bobcat 250 NT. 10,000 watt, 20HP motor. It does AC/DC welding. It runs my whole house when needed. I was in a situation where I needed a new welder to replace my 30 yr. old Craftsman buzz box and upgrade my 5k generator so I bought it.

 

[tommu56]

thingy

I am Industril electrican and do some work on the side.
Please fill inyour profile so i don'. do any work in your area we find many home owners doing the same thing and if the power back feeds because one home oner saw his buddy plug in his gen that way and dosen't see him turn off breaker. putting power back on the grid.

spend the $110 at home depot and get a transfer panel and have it installed by a compedent electrican!!!!
tommu56

 

[hockeypuck]

You would be silly not to think that the majority of generators running during a power outage are equipped with suicide cords (double male) and backfeeding the house. It is just the way it is and a lineman that doesn't assume every line is live is also a little crazy. Suicide cords being against code, dangerous, sure - but so are many things we do in a temporary situation.

It would be mighty difficult to do it wrong since if you forgot to shut off the main breaker then the generator would be trying to supply power to the entire grid which would pop your generator breakers or stall the engine immediately.

All that said, I am a cord runner. My generator powers my home through powerstrips and such hooked up to the 110 outlets of the genset and long extension cords. This works for me given my lack of needed 220 appliances. It is obvious to me that most folks find it easier and very effective to make up a suicide cord.

Just because some people are doing it does not make it right for you to do it. With all due respect, your post is misleading and flat out irresponsible. I am an electrician and I would say that in my area most people do not run suicide chords. All it takes is someone to forget to turn off the main and serious bodily injury to a line worker or the home owner can result and in a best case scenario, your generator gets fried. If your outside lines are shorted by a tree and you forget to turn of the main, you can kiss the first two layers of skin on your hand good by when you plug that chord in. Dont do it.

As for home depot transfer switches, make sure they are UL listed or do not bother asking me to install them. It is against code for me to install half of the crap that comes from Chepo Depo.

Puck

 

[thingy]

Uh,huh,,right,,we are trying to take money out of electections babies mouth here??!!,,,,,,let people decide,,you don't need no transfer switch,,,I ain't killed myself yet,you are scaring the yuppies only,,thingy

 

[hockeypuck]

Uh,huh,,right,,we are trying to take money out of electections babies mouth here??!!,,,,,,let people decide,,you don't need no transfer switch,,,I ain't killed myself yet,you are scaring the yuppies only,,thingy

Wow, I do not even know where to start with that one, so I wont.

Puck